New Delhi: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind General Secretary Maulana Mehmood Madani has sought death penalty for those who hurt a person’s religious values or disrespect a religious leader.

“Death penalty or life sentences should be given to those who hurt a person’s religious values or disrespect a religious leader,” he said.

Madani made the remarks while addressing the ‘Huloos-e-Insaaf’ conference convened by his outfit at the Faiz-e-Aam college in Meerut.

“We are Indians by choice and not by chance. It was love for the country that made us stay back in India even after the partition,” he said. He demanded that the UP government should fulfill the promise of 18 per cent reservation to Muslims made during the 2012 assembly polls.

Madani said that the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Milia Islamia be kept intact and innocent Muslims lodged in prisons should be released. Hindu and Christian leaders who were present at the event asked the people to rise above caste and religion to live in harmony.

“Fire cannot be put out by fire, water is needed to do so. People of all religions should live with harmony and save the country from those who are taking it towards destruction,” Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s President Maulana Sayeed Arshad Madan said.

“Neither the killing of Akhlaq signifies Hinduism nor the ones shedding the blood of innocent people with an Ak-47 can be called Muslims,” Acharya Pramod Kirshnam said.

“Raise the voice against those who indulge in injustice,” Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind leader Maulana Usman said.

Father Manish Johnson said, “We all should live with harmony and end all the hate.”

The leaders also took a pledge to rise above caste and religion and work for humanity.